How are we funded?

Funding for the Appalachian Life Quality Initiative (ALQI) comes from numerous sources, including grants from charitable foundations, state and federal grants, donations from the communities, religious congregations and institutions, individuals, hospitals, TennCare fees, as well as donations of public funds from local representatives. Important start-up funds were provided by B. R. Thompson Charitable Trust, (now ELGIN Foundation) as well as continued support.

The Scott County Dental Clinic treats children up to the age of 21 with the majority having TennCare insurance. While the clinic uses a sliding fee scale for payment for those with no insurance, no child is turned away because of their inability to pay for services rendered. For this reason, we cannot depend on TennCare to cover all the costs of the clinic. Grants, donations and professional volunteers are an important part of the clinic and its success. The Scott County Commissioners voted to ready the building for the clinic and the county does not charge rent.

The Children's Center of the Cumberlands (CCC), now having its own 501 (c) 3 status, continues to receive limited support from ALQI. The CCC has no income and must rely solely on grants and donations. To date they have been successful in receiving V.O.C.A. and other grants, religious congregations budgeted line items, monetary donations and tremendous community support. This organization must continually seek funding for its program.

The STAND program is receiving financial assistance from the schools, the courts, and local facilities such as the hospitals and clinics. Grants, donations, and volunteers play a large part in this program as well. It was during 2004 that the TN General Assembly allowed three different municipalities and three different courts to add a $25 fee onto court charges that are designated for the STAND program in Scott County.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Scott County has become very aggressive in fund raising for the programs. You won't find a county of this size anywhere with more enthusiasm for a program. In support of a new $4.2 building in which to bring the children to their own facility instead of two schools, several benefactors have stepped up with half million dollar donations, grants funded and a Capital Campaign begun.

The Well-Child Screening program is funded and managed by the Scott County TN Dept. of Health. The screenings performed by the RN each day are billed to TennCare and supports her work.

The Imagination Library was begun in 2004 through a grant from the ELGIN Foundation and matching funds from the State of TN.

ALQI faces great challenges as public funding for healthcare is debated and reformed-especially in Tennessee. With the tremendous loss of employment Scott county has experienced over the past several years, demands for our program services are likely to increase and funding could quite possibly decrease. We have already felt the loss of funds for one program as the donor decided to help hurricane victims instead.